Bobbin mounting disc

ABSTRACT

A bobbin mounting disc for use with circular knitting machines wherein a disc is provided with a plurality of mounting holes through which a plurality of mounting blocks can be secured to the disc. Each mounting block carries a cup-like member and a spike to retain thereon a yarn-wound bobbin. Varying numbers of bobbins can be secured to the disc which then serves as a shield to prevent upwardly moving air currents as the disc is rotated by machine operation.

United States Patent [191 Greczin [451 Nov. 19, 1974 BOBBIN MOUNTING DISC [76] Inventor: John Greczin, 7312 School Ln.,

Melrose Park, Philadelphia, Pa. 19126 [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 283,787

[52] US. Cl. 66/125 R, 242/1303 [51] Int. Cl D04b 15/48 [58] Field of Search 242/130, 130.3; 66/125 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,366,101 12/1944 Grothey 66/125 R 2,909,913 10/1959 Strub 66/125R 2,944,414 7/1960 Malloy et al 66/125 A Primary ExaminerW. C. Reynolds Assistant ExaminerAndrew M. Falik Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Weiser, Stapler & Spivak [5 7] ABSTRACT A bobbin mounting disc for use with circular knitting machines wherein a disc is provided with a plurality of mounting holes through which a plurality of mounting blocks can be secured to the disc. Each mounting block carries a cup-like member and a spike to retain thereon a yarn-wound bobbin. Varying numbers of bobbins can be secured to the disc which then serves as a shield to prevent upwardly moving air currents as the disc is rotated by machine operation.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOBBIN MOUNTING DISC SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A multi-feed circular knitting machine includes yarn supply bobbins, one (at least) for each feed. The bobbins are carried at the outer ends of arms which radiate outwardly from a central mounting hub which is concentric with, and which rotates about the axis of the needle stem of the machine. (For convenience, the hub and the arms radiating therefrom are referred to as a spider). When the spider is rotated at knitting speed, the spaced arms create upwardly moving air currents which adversely affect the movement of the yarns from the bobbins to the feeds. Further, in a machine of the type set forth, the maximum number of bobbins which the machine can accommodate, places an upper limit on the number of feeds the machine can operate.

The present invention resides in providing means for preventing the generation of air currents in enlarging the number of yarn supply bobbins which the machine can accept without enlarging the machine or the pertinent parts thereof.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a conventional spider and the manner in which it carries the yarn supply bobbins.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 and shows the means which displace the conventional spider shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view looking in the direction of Line 3-3 on FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the spider of the prior art includes a central hub and a number of arms 12 which radiate from the hub. It will be noted that the arms are spaced apart so that when the hub was rotated at the desired rate, the arms generated air currents which moved upwardly between the arms and interfered with the movement of the yarn from the bobbins toward the feeds of the knitting machine.

According to my invention, the spider is replaced by a disc 16 which prevents the formation of the upwardly moving air currents referred to. It will be noted that by substituting a disc for the spider arms, I utilize the available space to increase the number of bobbins which a given machine can accommodate, from eight as in FIG. 1 to 12 as in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each bobbin is'impaled on a spike 18 and comes to rest in, or on, a cuplike member 20 which is secured by screws 22 to mounting block 24. Block 24 is secured to the disc 16 by means of three screws 26 which pass upwardly through holes formed in the disc as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the absence of positive propulsion, and with no bobbins mounted on the disc, very little, if any, air will pass upwardly through the holes in the disc and such air as does pass will lack any appreciable kinetic energy.

The broken line circles in FIG. 2 indicate the locations of bobbins and the mounting holes are distributed in such a fashion as to make optimum use of the area of the disc 16 by providing for said bobbins to be randomly located in a variety of positions. For example, at locations A,B, and C, there are three holes for receiving bolts 26. At locations D,E,F, and G, there are five holes. At locations I-I,I,J, and K, there are six holes. This arrangement provides a versatility not vouch-safed by the arms of the conventional spider arms. Furthermore, the area of the disc 16 which, according to my invention, accommodates four additional bobbins is, in the prior art, uselessly occupied by the inner portions of the spider arms. By this arrangement, by merely selecting the desired pattern, the machine can operate with any desired number of bobbins from one to twelve.

Disc 16 is provided with a central opening 30 for mounting the disc in concentric relation to the needle stem of the machine. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the machine illustrated in FIG. 1 can make use of a maximum of eight feeds, while a machine embodying the present invention can make use of 12 by merely adding bobbins in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a multi-feed circular knitting machine,

A. a bobbin mounting disc concentrically positioned on the knitting machine,

I. said disc having rotary movement relative to the knitting machine,

2. said disc being drilled to provide a plurality of randomly positioned mounting holes,

3. said disc acting as a shield during rotation to prevent upward passage of any air currents that may be generated beneath the disc by the rotary movement; and

B. a plurality of mounting blocks secured to the disc at the said mounting holes,

1. each said mounting block carrying bobbin support means to accommodate a yam-wound bobbin,

2. said mounting blocks being capable of being secured to the disc in a variety of randomly located positions.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the number of mounting blocks secured to the disc is greater than eight.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the number of mounting blocks is between nine and 12. 

1. In combination with a multi-feed circular knitting machine, A. a bobbin mounting disc concentrically positioned on the knitting machine,
 1. said disc having rotary movement relative to the knitting machine,
 2. said disc being drilled to provide a plurality of randomly positioned mounting holes,
 3. said disc acting as a shield during rotation to prevent upward passage of any air currents that may be generated beneath the disc by the rotary movement; and B. a plurality of mounting blocks secured to the disc at the said mounting holes,
 1. each said mounting block carrying bobbin support means to accommodate a yarn-wound bobbin,
 2. said mounting blocks being capable of being secured to the disc in a variety of randomly located positions.
 2. said disc being drilled to provide a plurality of randomly positioned mounting holes,
 2. said mounting blocks being capable of being secured to the disc in a variety of randomly located positions.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the number of mounting blocks secured to the disc is greater than eight.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the number of mounting blocks is between nine and
 12. 3. said disc acting as a shield during rotation to prevent upward passage of any air currents that may be generated beneath the disc by the rotary movement; and B. a plurality of mounting blocks secured to the disc at the said mounting holes, 